Newton let investigators inside when they arrived, authorities said. Investigators then found Newton’s cousin, who was beaten over what deputies say could have been several days.

The man was taken to Cleveland Regional Medical Center and later transported to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

Newton was taken to the Cleveland County Detention Center and placed under a $150,000 bond.

“This is a sad situation that has occurred,” Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman said in a news release. “The investigation shows at this time that the victim could have been assaulted over a number of days. Thank God someone called when they did or this could have been a homicide investigation.”